Tag: money

If you ask any wealthy person, they can tell you what the long term plan is for their business, their investments, and their finances. Wealthy people focus on the big picture, and not just what they want/need right now.

You can’t get wealthy if you’re in debt. Wealthy people go into debt when necessary (modest home, education, etc.) but get out as soon as possible. They put all their extra income into erasing any outstanding debts in their name.

Once they’ve gotten out of debt, wealthy people invest in things. They don’t just let their money sit, but they put it to good use. They also invest in things they know well and trust. You won’t ever see a wealthy person invest in some shady “get rich quick” scheme, even if it is their uncle who’s doing it.

Wealthy people know how to save, and lots suggest that it should be at least 10% every month. By saving, you not only build up your money, but you can prepare for emergencies and other unforeseen incidents.

Even if they’re given a raise, wealthy people live within their means. Don’t purchase items that are too expensive and put a strain on your finances. This prevents debts from building up and money getting spent too fast.

Most wealthy people will look at their short term and long term financial goals every day, maybe even multiple times. By looking at goals, seeing if you’re on track, and keeping them in mind, it gets easier to achieve them.

A recent study showed that wealthy people actually watch less TV than the poor; they only watch about one hour of TV a day. This doesn’t mean watching TV is inherently bad or will make you poor, it’s just that wealthy people engage in more productive activities.

Along those same lines, wealthy people know how to spend their time well. With everything they do, they ask themselves, “how will this help me achieve my goals?” With this level of focus, they are able to make and keep money.

Wealthy people also know the value of patience. By waiting for good deals or until the price of something they want drops, wealthy people are able to get more bang for their buck, saving them money.

Wealthy people understand the importance of education. They usually have a high level of education and, if they don’t, they go out and get one. Wealthy people are proactive in learning as much as they can so they can make the smartest financial decisions possible.

Do your best to stick to the end caps at Target. That means sticking to the perimeter of the store and trying to find deals. That’s usually where the best deals will be placed. After you’ve scouted those deals, go ahead and move into the store.

If something is discounted at 15 to 30%, then hold off on buying it unless you REALLY want/need it. Usually Target will increase this clearance to 50% or higher after a few days.

When shopping on Target online, put items you want in your cart and then leave them there overnight. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll get offered a coupon or discount code since Target wants you to actually make the purchase.

Whenever possible, always use coupons at Target. Not only do they offer TONS of coupons, but there are so many different kinds. Look for coupons on their website or tags near the actual product in the store.

If you are an avid Target shopper, then I suggest getting a Red Card. You could get their credit card, but there’s also a debit card version. You get access to great deals and discounts when you shop with a Red Card.

Download the Cartwheel app and let the coupons and great deals roll in! Before you go shopping, look at what deals are being offered on Cartwheel and make sure to take advantage of them!

You can also scan items in-store with the Cartwheel app. This lets you double check to make sure you’re getting the best coupon or discount on an item when you go to buy it. If you’re not sure if it has a coupon, scan it anyway! It can’t hurt.

I love buying DVDs at Target because they have a $5 and under section. Renting a DVD can sometimes cost that much, so I might as well spend a few extra bucks and get the DVD forever!

Target online offers a weekly deal, which is actually usually pretty great. So, once a week, get online and check the deal to see if it’s something you need.

Target usually offers some great combo deals that can save you lots of money in the long run. For example, they just recently offered a deal on First Aid supplies and another on sunscreen and similar products. Find them and take advantage!

Holiday clearance at Target is great. After a holiday, Target usually starts their clearance at 50% and only increases it until everything is gone. Pretty awesome.

To get access to coupons on your phone, text OFFERS to 827438. Target will send you coupons that you can use to save some pretty big bucks over time.

If you don’t want to get texts from Target, then download the Target app and go to their “mobile coupons” tab. This gives you access to all the same coupons without giving them your number.

Target is great because they let you stack coupons. That means you can use different types of coupons (store, manufacturer, etc.) together to get some great savings.

Target (like most stores) has their own Target store brand. If you buy their store brand, you can get some great discounts, plus they have a 1-year return policy for most items, so you don’t have to suffer buyer’s remorse.

Twice a year, Target has awesome sales on toys. This is usually in January (after Christmas) and sometime in July (usually in preparation for new toys that are coming in). Check the aisle every now and then and you can get deals as good as 75% off!

I love Target’s rain check program. Pretty much, if there’s an item at a good price you want but it’s out of stock, Target usually has rain check papers you can take (or scan) that guarantee that price for you within the next six weeks or so.

If you switch to the Target Pharmacy, then for every five prescriptions you fill, they give you 5% off for any transaction. That money can add up if you fill prescriptions regularly.

This isn’t always the case, but if a discounted item’s price ends in .06 or .08, then that’s usually indicative that it will be marked down again (it’s just part of Target’s system). So, if you see that, then wait a bit and see if it gets marked off even more.

Some products at Target have an attached gift card deal. That means that, when you make a certain purchase or spend a certain amount, Target will give you a gift card with your purchase (usually $5 or $10). It’s pretty much free money!

Target has a pretty awesome price match policy. Pretty much, if you find an identical item somewhere else for a cheaper price, then Target will sell you that item for the matched price. That’s pretty snazzy!

Not only that, but if you buy an item at Target and you see it for a cheaper price (either at Target or somewhere else) then you can go back to the store and they’ll refund you the money. This even works of Target drops the price of the item.

Registering at Target for weddings and baby showers isn’t only common, but it’s also super smart. Anything on your registry that you don’t get will be discounted by 15% after the event. Pretty awesome!

If you bring in your own reusable bags to Target, then you can get a discount! For every reusable bag, you get 5 cents off the purchase. It isn’t much by itself, but those savings add up!

While this isn’t the same at every store, usually Target has a schedule for what items it puts on sale. Here is the general list, but do some research at your own Target to see how it alters. Monday: Electronics, accessories, kids’ clothing, books, baby, and stationery. Tuesday: Domestics, women’s clothing, pets, and food items, Wednesday: Men’s Clothing, Toys, Health and Beauty, and Garden. Thursday: Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Toys, Sporting Goods, Decor, and Luggage. Friday: Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, and Jewelry.

Promo codes, coupons, discounts, rebates. These are just a VERY small portion of the ways that you can save money when shopping and buying things. Ebates is another great way you can make extra cash back on your purchases. Here are some great ways to get the most out of your Ebates.

It’s super common for Ebates to offer deals and bonuses when you sign up for them. You can get up to a $10 gift card if you sign up at the right time. If there’s no offer right now, you can either check around and see if any of your friends have personal codes you can use to get points for signing up!

If you are using Ebates, you definitely want to shop at their registered stores and online shops. To the best of your ability, change your shopping routine so that you are using sites that have Ebates. It may take some time, but, in the long run, it’ll save you money.

If you sign up with Ebates, then make sure you’re using it consistently. Remember that the more consistently you use it, the more money you’ll make back. So try to use it every chance you get and keep growing your account!

When shopping through Ebates, be patient! Prices and offers can change so, if the thing you want right now doesn’t have an Ebates offer or isn’t a good price, then wait a bit. If things haven’t changed in a month or so, then you’re probably good to buy it since it most likely won’t change.

A lot of people don’t know this, but you can stack your Ebates with coupons and promo codes. Some people lose out on great deals because they didn’t realize Ebates work with most other promotional offers. Do this trick and you’ll see the money come rolling in!

When shopping with Ebates, do your research. Don’t just buy the product you want on the first site that offers an Ebates deal. Instead, look around at their other sites and see if the price and Ebates offer is better. Doing your research like this can save you hundreds (if not thousands) by the end of the year.

The first thing you want to do is make sure you’re making your craft as unique and marketable as possible. If you’re selling the same exact craft as 50 other vendors, then you’re going to have to try even harder to set yourself apart.

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Find ways to make your crafts unique and memorable so people want yours above other similar products.

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Make sure that you go into this with a business perspective. Lots of crafters want to sell their crafts but don’t take it seriously and either don’t make any money, or barely break even. While you should love making the crafts, you also need to accept that it’s a business; and that means doing the boring stuff like marketing, branding, advertising, etc. Don’t let those fly under the radar just because you don’t want to do them.

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Find a local store or two (or multiple) that agree to sell your item. Usually you can get a pop-up stand somewhere in the store to place your craft. You’ll have to pay for this space, but if your target market shops at that store, then it could be a good investment.

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You should have a website. You can learn how to start your own wordpress website on my previous post. First, you need to chose a domain name and find a hosting service. Bluehost is offering my readers a very special price on all hosting right now through my link. So, if you are considering it, this is probably your best chance at a great hosting plan for only a couple of dollars a month. You’ll also want to set up an online shop on a site like Etsy (or one similar). The more you can get your name and product out there, the more crafts you’re going to sell. Starting a blog is a great way to get your name and brand out there. Don’t be shy, and pin your ideas to Pinterest and share them on your social media accounts. This is a great way to launch your new business.

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You’ll also want to set up an online shop on a site like Etsy (or one similar). The more you can get your name and product out there, the more crafts you’re going to sell. Starting a blog is a great way to get your name and brand out there. Don’t be shy, and pin your ideas to Pinterest and share them on your social media accounts. This is a great way to launch your new business.

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In the beginning, the book keeping shouldn’t be too complicated. Hopefully, as your business grows, you will need to learn how to do all the financial stuff like managing budget, inventory, and managing your books. You can hire someone to do that, once you get busier and have a lot of business, but it is extremely helpful if you can figure this stuff out in the meantime. It will also save you a lot of money in the startup phase.

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Do some research and figure out what time of the year your product sells best. If it’s Christmas, then push big and spend a bit more on advertising that time of year to really sell your product. If you can find out the market surges for your product and plan accordingly, you can make a big profit.

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Find all the conferences for crafters and attend them! There you will learn how to be a better artist/business person as well as have the opportunity to sell some product. You’d be surprised at how much you can learn (and sell) at these conferences.

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Also look for craft fairs that you can sell at. TONS of people go to those things, and they go with the desire to spend money, so this is a great opportunity.

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Offer your customers incentives for spreading the word about your business. Give deals like a free craft when they get five friends to buy one of your products, or something similar. Positive word of mouth is great for business.

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This should go without saying, but make sure that your product is actually good quality. No one is going to come back to you if the craft you sold them breaks quickly. If needed, spend a bit more money on materials to make a good product. Retention of your customer base is as important as new customers. You want them to come back to you, and to tell their friends. So make a product worthy of that!

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Don’t be afraid to embrace social media and use it to let others know about your product. Take pictures, write posts, and share messages about your craft to everyone on your social media outlets. Hopefully something will stick!

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Get a booth at a local business fair. Not only will your craft be out there, but you’ll also be able to reel potential customers in and tell them all the great things about your craft. This is good for business, as well as networking with other people in similar industries.

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Offer free (or cheap) workshops to the community. You don’t necessarily have to teach them how to make your signature craft, but if you can get the word out about your products by engaging with the community, then people are more likely to buy your crafts.

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Really get to know your market and feel out what they want. If you can do that, then you’ll be able to discover new crafts they may love, which can increase your profits drastically.

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You’ll want to make sure that your website is clean, professional, and easy to navigate. If it looks like your website came from the early 2000s, then you’re going to lose a lot of potential customers right away. Make sure it looks good. If you don’t already have a website, see my step by step tutorial on how to set up a website for super cheap.

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Build a brand that people will recognize. That means designing a memorable brand. This starts with a great name, colors, logo, font, etc. If people can see a certain design and recognize it as your craft, then you’re on the right path.

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In order to keep costs low, especially in the beginning, never waste material. Try to be as efficient as possible and use your scraps if you can. Everything you throw away =$$, so be as smart as you can be about reusing your resources.

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Don’t be afraid to experiment with the crafts you sell. If you think you have a good idea that your market will like, try it out and sell a few of them. If they go fast, you know they’re good. If not, then you know it wasn’t a good idea. Lots of popular products were experiments at first.

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Make sure that you’re building a good rapport with your customers. Treat them well, make sure they get their product on time and in good condition, and take any of the questions or concerns seriously. If your customers know you care about them, they’re more likely to spread the word about your business.

Working from home is a great option and today, there are more companies than ever that offer these opportunities. Working a job from home saves time on your commute, as well as money on gas, among other great perks. If you’re looking for a work from home job, but don’t want to make minimum wage, here are a few work-from-home jobs that pay $12 or more an hour!

If you get a job here, you’ll work as an appointment scheduler for financial wholesalers. If you love organizing things and setting schedules, then this is a great job for you! Pay starts at $12 with potential to get a raise.

If you live in the US and have internet, then you can work for Apple! You can become an Apple chat agent, which helps customers with any needs that they may have. Pay varies per employee but it’s usually over $12.

If you have a gift at finding great travel deals or ideas, then this is a job for you! You would work as a remote travel counselor, which entails helping people figure out their travel plans, whatever they may be!

While this company usually only hires at-home-workers seasonally, it can still be a great way to boost income when needed. They pay $15 an hour and you’ll be doing mainly customer service work for any clients that call or message in.

This might sound intense, but it’s not too bad. At this company, you would work as a customer support agent. However, they do require that you have at least 2 years of healthcare experience and the pay ranges for $16 to $18 an hour.

This company pays $15 an hour for their at-home workers. Your job would consist of cold calling other businesses to try to get deals and meetings set up. They do like you to have some sort of experience in B2B cold calling, however, so take that into consideration.

At this company, you would work as a social media moderator. This entails lots of jobs, but basically, you would be monitoring their social media accounts and making sure that everything was running smoothly and that customers were being responded to and helped appropriately and in a timely fashion.

If you’re tech-savvy, then this is the job for you! You’d provide remote tech support for any of their customers, so you’ll need to know your way around a computer. However, they pay $18 an hour, so it’s a pretty good deal.

To work here, you have to have some sort of counseling and/or therapy experience. Basically, ginger.io provides remote counseling for anyone that calls in needing help. Remember, though, that this isn’t a crisis or suicide hotline, it’s just an outlet for people who need someone to talk to and listen.

This is one of the better tutoring websites that I’ve seen. They pay $20 an hour, but you have to have experience in the field you’d be tutoring (in other words, you can’t say you’ll tutor in math if you don’t really know what you’re doing). You also need a webcam so that the students can video call if necessary.

This tutoring site doesn’t seem as rigorous as Chegg, but it also doesn’t pay as well. However, if you want to be an online instructor or virtual tutor, try your hand here. They pay $12 an hour and you can choose your hours.

This is one of many companies that provide search engine evaluation. When working from home, you’d be in charge of making sure that search engines are functioning properly, the SEO works, and that no one is trying to cheat the system. They pay about $13 an hour.

If none of these positions interest you, here are some other ways to make money from home:

The classic way that lots of teens earn money is by babysitting. Plus, if your teen is already babysitting for a few families, they can ask for referrals from their friends to get even more jobs! It’s actually a pretty good way to make some money.

Lawn and yard maintenance is a job perfect for young teenagers. Not only does it teach them how to work, but your teens will also gain valuable skills they can use in the future. They can offer services from simple mowing to bush trimming and flowerbed maintenance.

If your child has a particularly artistic skill, then help them make money off it. Nowadays, there are tons of ways to set up online shops and sell homemade crafts and art projects. You’ll want to help with the budgeting and contacting, but selling products online is a great job for some teens.

Good writing is getting harder and harder to come by, so if your teen has a talent or passion for writing, then let them flourish! They can do anything from ghost writing to freelance or even enter essay contents.

There are also lots of survey sites out there that, if you allow it, your teen could subscribe to and make a bit of extra cash. It just involves them taking surveys online about tons of different things (it depends on the survey).

I know lots of people who are looking for good but cheap photographers. Whether it’s for family photos, real estate pictures, or something else, if your teen has an eye for pictures, then maybe they can do some photography.

The same goes for videography. Filming events like graduation and weddings is becoming more and more common, so it’s definitely a lucrative business. If your teen already has a camera and some editing equipment, then maybe it’s just the job for them.

Teenagers seem to have a natural skill with technology, so they might as well make some money off of it! I’m sure you know tons of people who struggle with technology, so put them in touch with your teen who can help fix a problem or teach them how to work a piece of technology.

Cleaning jobs are pretty common among the teens I know. In fact, when I was younger, my dad paid me to clean his offices. Not only will it teach good skills to your kids, but it also gives them some cash.

Depending on where you live, it’s possible that your teen can get a pretty good job as a waiter at some local restaurants. Help them look around and find a place you’re comfortable with them working at and that will give them the money they’re looking for.

Being in college and being broke are pretty synonymous with each other nowadays. Although it can be hard to be making money and going to school, it is possible. You just have to find the right job that is flexible, one of which is an online job. I’ve compiled six great online jobs you can work while in college.

Start a Blog

Blogging is the perfect way for college students to make extra money. It is flexible. You can work on your own time and be your own boss. I can’t think of a better job for a college student that is trying to fit everything in between classes, tests, and studying. If you are interested in how to make money blogging, or how to start a blog, read my step by step tutorials to help you get started.

Freelance Writer

Since you’re probably writing so much in school already, you might as well make some money off of it! You can write online content and actually make a pretty good earning from it. Plus, you have lots of options. You can start your own blog, freelance, ghostwrite, or anything else really. The more you write, and the better you are, the more you can make! You can read more about How To Get Freelance Writing Jobs here.

Tech Support

Lots of companies hire remote tech support workers to help their clients. If you know your way around technology then you should consider this job. You just log on whenever you’re free and questions are directed to you.

Data Entry

Data entry is another online job that lots of company hire for. It’s pretty straightforward (and sometimes kind of boring), but hey, it pays the bills. Look around at different companies and try to find one that you like, offers good pay, and gives you a flexible schedule. You could even work your way up in this position for future jobs.

Accounting Books

If you’re an accounting or finance major, then balancing and keeping books will not only give you money, it will also give you experience! Usually local companies are looking for someone to take care of their finances. Once you get the job, it’s pretty much all online work!

Become a Tutor

As a student, you know what it’s like to be taught. So you might as well become a tutor! There are tons of educational websites that hire people to be an online and virtual tutor. You could tutor in your specialty, or even just English if you’re a native speaker. It’s a pretty sweet gig, actually.

Well, look at that. I gave you 6 ideas!

Some other great ideas are to sell your old books online, selling crafts or becoming an online distributor, using survey sites and more!

Here are a few other ideas on how to make extra money side hustling while you are in college:

Use your phone camera to make some extra money! Seriously, even if you don’t have any idea what Snapchat is, it’s easy to learn and you can make a lot of extra money while doing it! If you love sharing your life with your friends and family, this could be just the gig for you. Really, it is completely possible to make money Snapchatting all day! Here is a comprehensive list of companies looking for photography and video gurus to run their company owned Snapchats.

According to a representative, you can make $40,000 working for FabFitFun as a Snapchat coordinator. FabFitFun is a company based around the health and beauty needs of women. Users can subscribe to a monthly box filled with makeup, nail polish, hair products, and more fun items. Some experience is needed, as this company is looking for someone who has at least a year of experience managing social media accounts for businesses. Job responsibilities include maintaining a content calendar, and of course, Snapchatting.

PopSugar is looking to hire a Snapchatting guru with at least a few years of hands-on video experience. Workers will make between $40,000- $50,000 every year, and be responsible for creating “stunning” video content that is posted daily. Those interested can apply here.

Of course, you could always work for the company in charge of the madness! Work for Snapchat as a Story Editor, and make a whopping $60,000 every year. A college degree is required, and they are looking for an extremely visual thinker to help manage content for the company’s account. Apply here!

If you are based in Los Angeles, and have always dreamed of working for Time, apply for this gig. Time is looking for a content producer to make and create short form videos for various social media outlets (like Tumblr). The estimated salary is between $40,000-$60,000 yearly. The job will be centered in the people and entertainment categories, and there will be a lot of celebrity news. The company promises room for growth, so this could be perfect for anyone!

Fashion lovers rejoice! If you love fashion and the icons behind the designs, this job working for Hearst (Cosmopolitan) would be perfect for you. Employees would be expecting to create diverse, unique, and fashionable content for it’s Snapchat discover channel. Seriously, how cool would it be to say that you worked for Hearst magazines?

If you want to make money online, there are a million ways to earn a living on the internet. Here are a few related posts that can help you decide which direction is right for you!

Making a budget is a great idea, but if you forget to plan three or four things, then your whole budget can get thrown off. In order to avoid having to replan your whole budget, here are 20 things that you’re probably forgetting that you should put in your budget right now.

Most people don’t add an emergency fund to their budget. We often have savings calculated in (for big purchases), but not a fund for emergencies that are unexpected. Funnel some money into an emergency account every month to take care of that issue.

Haircuts and personal care are often things that go forgotten until right when we need them. So, when you sit down at the beginning of the week or month to budget, don’t forget this category!

It’s sometimes hard to track the amount you spend on heating and cooling because it varies so much on what month and season it is. However, to the best of your ability, plan for the months where you’re going to probably be using them a lot so you have the money in your budget to cover it.

We should all be budgeting for a vacation. It doesn’t have to be a big European getaway, but a little vacation to a bed and breakfast a few hours away should always be worked into the budget.

I have a good friend who always says that if you don’t want to spend money on dates with your spouse, you’ll just be spending that money on therapy! So, make sure you work date nights and entertainment into the budget so you can relax and enjoy yourself after a hard week of working.

Along with that, you should also have some money set aside for eating out. Buying fast food usually comes up in the moment (because it’s convenient), so work that into your budget ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about balancing the books later.

Annual payments are super easy to forget about because we only pay for them once a year. Things like credit card fees or some memberships can be hefty but sneaky, so make sure they’re in your budget.

While having to buy school supplies only happens once or twice a year (depending on how fast your kids go through them), it can be a pretty large chunk of money. So, if you don’t budget for it, then it might throw a wrench in your budget. Sit down now, and make sure you have it worked into your finances.

Every now and then, you’re going to have to buy new work clothes. Things like shoes, suits, etc. can all be a pretty large charge if you have to buy them all at once. Figure out if you’re going to need new clothes this month or year, and then budget it.

Gifts are something that always seem to pop up as extra expenses for me. Holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day don’t do this; but friends birthdays are usually the guiltiest! So make sure you know everyone’s birthday who you buy presents for, or just plan in some extra money each month for surprise presents.

Pets can be just as expensive as children sometimes! Shots, food, leashes, emergencies, and other things can all add up pretty quickly if you haven’t budgeted them.

If you own a home, then you know how home and yard maintenance’s can get pretty expensive. Blowing out the sprinklers, fixing the mower, painting the front porch, and other projects can cause some financial issues if you don’t budget them.

Don’t let car expenses sneak up on you! Things like registration, tabs, repairs, or other problems should be worked into your budget so you’re not stressed when they come up.

For those of you who contribute frequent donations, then make sure they’re in your budget! While it’s always good to give to charity, you want to go about it smartly.

If you have monthly subscriptions like magazines or weekly delivery systems, then they need to be in your budget! If not, you’ll be wondering where all that money is going every month!

While it’s great to get some extra income (especially when it’s not expected), if it’s not calculated into your taxes, then you can see a big chunk of your monthly budget get taken by those taxes! And you can even get fees tacked on if you don’t pay the taxes, which is even worse!

If your kids are into sports or art groups, then the enrollment fees and cost of equipment can be a burden if not planned for. For the months when those activities start, make sure you budget for these expenses.

Clothing is another thing you’ll have to buy frequently when you have growing kids in the home. You may find yourself buying new pants every few months and, if you don’t plan for it, the costs can build up.

Unfortunately, even if you have insurance, medical bills can be pretty large. If you have regular doctor visits, set money aside for them, but also add a bit of money for emergency visits or other situations.

You’ll also want money for non-prescription medication; things like aspirin, Nyquil, allergy medicine, and others are expensive, and if you don’t plan on buying them, then their price seems even bigger!